Sudāmā Brāhmaṇa Receives Kṛṣṇa’s Mercy
The Gift of Flat Rice
नूनं बतैतन्मम दुर्भगस्य शश्वद्दरिद्रस्य समृद्धिहेतु: । महाविभूतेरवलोकतोऽन्यो नैवोपपद्येत यदूत्तमस्य ॥ ३३ ॥
nūnaṁ bataitan mama durbhagasya śaśvad daridrasya samṛddhi-hetuḥ mahā-vibhūter avalokato ’nyo naivopapadyeta yadūttamasya
सुदामा ने सोचा—मैं तो सदा से दरिद्र और दुर्भाग्यशाली रहा हूँ। ऐसे अभागे का सहसा धनवान होना तभी संभव है जब यदुवंश-शिरोमणि, परम ऐश्वर्यवान श्रीकृष्ण ने मुझ पर कृपा-दृष्टि डाली हो।
This verse states that true prosperity arises from Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s merciful glance; Sudāmā sees no other cause for his upliftment than the Lord’s compassion.
Sudāmā was lifelong poor and considered himself unfortunate; seeing Kṛṣṇa’s attention and affection, he concludes that only the Lord’s grace—not his own merit—can account for any future good fortune.
Cultivate humility, gratitude, and devotion—recognizing that lasting well-being is strengthened by divine grace and sincere relationships rather than pride in personal achievement.